This Is Going Well, I Think With David Cooper

Science communicator Dan Riskin joins David for The Science Appliance. The two discuss Dan's belly button lint problem and David declares 'winningest' a word. Dan regales us with details of his trip to the Galápagos, and describes a harrowing tale of being stung by a jellyfish. Even with all of that, the two still make time to cover the following science stories: How to keep your eyes dry when cutting onions; and Breaking news: it's safe to breathe through your butt! ⁠Sign up for Dan's weekly science newsletter The Bat Signal⁠ by clicking here⁠. Alternate podcast title: Urine For A Jelly Sting Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cognitive scientist ⁠⁠Mark Miller⁠⁠ explains ⁠⁠a theory on why horror films help us manage uncertainty⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Conspiracy Corner, political science professor Dr. Lee Kuhnle brings up ⁠the many strange and bizarre CIA assassination attempts of Fidel Castro⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out Lee's podcast The Uncover Up here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Environmental economist ⁠Eyal Frank⁠ reveals to David and Tony Five ⁠the many benefits of bats⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Foreign correspondent from the UK ⁠Tony Five⁠ covers some actual, current, and relevant news by discussing ⁠⁠Prince Andrew being stripped of his royal title⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Psychology professor ⁠⁠Igor Grossmann⁠⁠ shares ⁠⁠the key to making wise choices⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Foreign correspondent from the UK Tony Five covers some actual, current, and relevant news by discussing ⁠Prince Andrew being stripped of his royal title⁠. Cognitive scientist ⁠Mark Miller⁠ explains ⁠a theory on why horror films help us manage uncertainty⁠. Psychology professor ⁠Igor Grossmann⁠ shares ⁠the key to making wise choices⁠. Leisure researcher ⁠Emily Messina⁠ examines ⁠how Dungeons & Dragons is more than just a game⁠. Environmental economist Eyal Frank reveals to David and Tony the many benefits of bats. For Conspiracy Corner, political science professor Dr. Lee Kuhnle brings up the many strange and bizarre CIA assassination attempts of Fidel Castro. (⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out Lee's podcast The Uncover Up here⁠⁠⁠⁠.) For Halloween, social psychologist ⁠Frank McAndrew⁠ tells David why people pay good money to have the living daylight scared out of them. Segments: (00:00) Introduction (01:18) Tony Five (10:00) Mark Miller (20:00) Igor Grossmann (30:00) Emily Messina (39:50) Eyal Frank & Tony Fi

David interviews ⁠Kelly Podlubny⁠ from Vancouver, Canada – 2025's ⁠World Laughing Champion⁠ –about his title and how laughter can be the best medicine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Vet Talk (or is it Pet Talk?), ⁠Dr. Cliff Redford⁠ reports on: Why the rise of 'fur baby' culture is fueling overtreatment and major animal welfare issues⁠; ⁠Study links cockroach infestations to higher household allergens and endotoxins⁠; and ⁠Paralysis ticks prefer heads and necks of pets⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On It's Time For Technology Time, tech analyst ⁠Carmi Levy⁠ covers the following stories: ⁠Airbnb Rolls out anti-party system for Halloween⁠; Nike says its first 'powered footwear' is like an e-bike for your feet⁠; Son asked Tesla's Grok AI chatbot about soccer, his mother says it told him to send nude pics⁠; and ⁠US TikTok deal was supposed to close today⁠ (it didn't). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Therapist ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Laurel van der Toorn⁠⁠ goes over ⁠when to tell a friend you don't like their significant other, and when you shouldn't⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On It's Time For Technology Time, tech analyst Carmi Levy covers the following stories: Airbnb Rolls out anti-party system for Halloween; Nike says its first 'powered footwear' is like an e-bike for your feet; Son asked Tesla's Grok AI chatbot about soccer, his mother says it told him to send nude pics; and US TikTok deal was supposed to close today (it didn't). Therapist ⁠⁠⁠⁠Laurel van der Toorn⁠ goes over when to tell a friend you don't like their significant other, and when you shouldn't. David interviews Kelly Podlubny from Vancouver, Canada – 2025's World Laughing Champion –about his title and how laughter can be the best medicine. On Vet Talk (or is it Pet Talk?), Dr. Cliff Redford reports on: Why the rise of 'fur baby' culture is fueling overtreatment and major animal welfare issues; Study links cockroach infestations to higher household allergens and endotoxins; and Paralysis ticks prefer heads and necks of pets. Social psychology researcher Christophe Gagné reveals how the science is complicated on t

For Therapy Thursdays on a Wednesday, therapist and social worker ⁠Gary Direnfeld⁠ tackles the topic of parents' expectations of children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Professor of communication studies ⁠Dr. Stephen Monteiro⁠ reveals how ⁠smartphones manipulate our emotions and trigger our reflexes⁠. ⁠Find out more from Stephen's book Needy Media here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Psychology professor ⁠Dr. Claudia Haase⁠ explains human synchronization to Tony Five and David and describes how ⁠spouses from less privileged backgrounds tend to share more synchronized heartbeats⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Foreign correspondent ⁠Tony Five⁠ ransacks the show with offbeat news: The furloughed IRS lawyer living out his dream of being a hot dog vendor⁠; and Ohio bill would ban AI from marrying humans and owning property⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For science news astrophysicist and professor ⁠Jesse Rogerson⁠ joins the show for stories: People who love horror movies tend to exhibit certain personality traits⁠; ⁠Romantic partner status determines changes in fertility desires⁠; Short exercise intervention helps teens with ADHD manage stress⁠; and ⁠Study links mysterious lights in the sky to historic nuclear tests⁠. ⁠Check out Jesse's book Daydreaming in the Solar System here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For science news astrophysicist and professor Jesse Rogerson joins the show for stories: People who love horror movies tend to exhibit certain personality traits; Romantic partner status determines changes in fertility desires; Short exercise intervention helps teens with ADHD manage stress; and Study links mysterious lights in the sky to historic nuclear tests. (Check out Jesse's book Daydreaming in the Solar System here.) Foreign correspondent Tony Five ransacks the show with offbeat news: The furloughed IRS lawyer living out his dream of being a hot dog vendor; and Ohio bill would ban AI from marrying humans and owning property. Psychology professor Dr. Claudia Haase explains human synchronization to Tony and David and describes how spouses from less privileged backgrounds tend to share more synchronized heartbeats. For Therapy Thursdays on a Wednesday, therapist and social worker Gary Direnfeld tackles the topic of parents' expectations of children. Professor of communication studies Dr. Stephen Monteiro

Psychology of education professor ⁠Neil Humphrey⁠ informs David why ⁠school isolation rooms are damaging pupil well-being⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Ana Catalano Weeks⁠ reveals that ⁠successful career women still shoulder the majority of the 'mental load' at home⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices